Behavioral-health division briefs committee on mobile crisis, children’s system and workforce gaps

Katya Fox, director of the Division for Behavioral Health, told lawmakers the division oversees community substance‑use treatment, mental‑health services and homeless services delivered by community mental‑health centers, peer support programs and other contractors.

Fox said the division’s work is guided by a 10‑year mental‑health plan (first issued in 2019), and highlighted two priorities that will appear repeatedly during the session: rapid response/mobile crisis services and a children’s system of care established in statute. "We use as our blueprint our 10 year mental health plan," Fox said.

Jenny O’Higgins, the division’s legislative liaison, told members she is available during the session to field bill-related questions and to coordinate subject-matter staff testimony. Fox and O’Higgins introduced bureau chiefs responsible for adult mental health, children’s behavioral health, and opioid-response programming and said those staff will provide detail on bills as they are scheduled for hearing.

Several legislators raised workforce concerns: Representative McKay described constituents who could not access outpatient counseling for months, and asked whether the division can expand capacity. Fox acknowledged that workforce shortages and limited counseling slots are a central bottleneck, and said the division’s response includes expanding roles for peers and community-based supports and advancing multiple bills this session aimed at workforce and access.

The division emphasized its willingness to provide materials and contact information for committee members and to deliver subject‑matter briefings as bills arise. The orientation included no formal votes; division staff encouraged legislators to route questions and constituent inquiries through the legislative liaison to access program experts.